cliff, and clearly not been tested at all in cutting and spending. >> the senate minority leader says that what the president is interested in is getting as much taxpayer money has he can so that he can spend to his heart's content. with his approval ratings going up and congress' numbers at historic lows and the unemployment rate dropping, why with the president back down? charles? >> to some extent he is under estimating the damage she will suffer if -- he suffer if we go over the cliff. it will hurt the republicans in congress, which is why democrats will relish going over the cliff. but obama is not running again, unlike democrats in congress. he is thinking of his legacy. if we go over the cliff and into recession, and the cbo has predicted 9% unemployment, a drop in gdp, that will wreck his second term. i am not sure he has all the cards. he has the advantage and republicans as their backs against the wall, but he may be overplaying his hand. he is pushing for unconditional surrender. i am not sure republicans will go along unless there is some give on obama's part. >> unconditi